PITTSBURGH – The Department of Environmental Protection found 62 violations on 52 of the 349 trash trucks inspected at five landfills in southwestern Pennsylvania last week. All of the violations were against haulers, not the landfills.
“This is part of an ongoing effort to ensure that trash haulers comply with environmental regulations and highway safety laws,” DEP Southwest Regional Director Ken Bowman said.
The inspections took place at Valley Landfill in Penn Township, Westmoreland County; BFI Imperial in Findlay Township and Monroeville Landfill in Monroeville, both in Allegheny County; Laurel Highlands Landfill in Jackson Township, Cambria County; and Onyx Landfill in German Township, Fayette County.
Trash haulers must get authorization from DEP through Act 90, the state’s Waste Transportation Safety Act, to haul trash in Pennsylvania. DEP inspectors look at compliance history, and if outstanding violations exist or there is an inability to comply with Act 90 regulations, the state can revoke authorization.
In addition to checking the Act 90 authorization, DEP inspectors also look for fire extinguisher and sign violations; drivers not properly managing waste during transportation; leaking loads; improper covers over the waste; trucks that are overweight or otherwise overloaded; and log book or record-keeping violations.
Two trucks did not have valid written Act 90 authorizations. One truck did not have the proper Act 90 sticker.
DEP issued 37 summary citations, 12 notices of violation and 13 written warnings. Thirty-four trucks had leaking loads. Other violations included problems with signs, waste containment and vehicle waste enclosures.
A single vehicle may have more than one violation.